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Checking in on… the MWCPosted by Brian Goodman on February 8th, 2011
Andrew Murawa is the RTC correspondent for the Mountain West and Pac-10 Conferences.
A Look Back
Last Wednesday, after Wyoming, in front of their home crowd, improbably stuck right with the #7 team in the nation, BYU, for 39-plus minutes, MWC fans were treated to an epic battle between two very good teams, one with its ticket all but punched for the NCAA Tournament, the other with its resume still very much in doubt. In the end, D.J. Gay's clutch shot as the clock wound down followed by his play on Colorado State's last-ditch effort sealed the road victory for San Diego State, just the latest in a streak of big plays at crunch time for the wily senior. The Rams, however, bounced back on Saturday with a closer-than-expected road win of their own over Wyoming. Elsewhere around the conference, New Mexico beat Air Force in Colorado Springs on Tuesday and Air Force came back with their own road win – their second in a row following 20 straight conference road losses – with their win over Utah on Saturday. If you're not counting at home, that makes five road wins in eight conference games this week, but in the end, the teams at the top of the conference by and large keep piling up the wins, giving the MWC five times who at least have aspirations for at-large NCAA Tournament selections. With talented veteran rosters across the conference, this may be the high water mark for the conference, with stalwarts Utah and BYU (and TCU, a non-factor basketball-wise) heading to higher ground next season. And, on Monday, we got news of the firing of Wyoming's head coach, Heath Schroyer, an announcement that was only potentially surprising because of the timing. With Utah and TCU also struggling through some recent hard times on the hard court, and with their impending departure, Jim Boylen and Jim Christian have to be looking over their shoulder as well.
Team of the Week: BYU – It's hard to pick out one team this week, but we'll go with the Cougars largely on the strength of their impressive handling of UNLV at the Marriott Center on Saturday. BYU built up a 12-point halftime lead, then coasted through much of the second half behind 29 points from Jimmer Fredette on his way to grabbing the mantle of the all-time leading scorer in Mountain West history, passing San Diego State's Brandon Heath. Fredette also added seven assists and made all 16 of his free throw attempts as the Cougars prevailed in a game that was not exactly a thing of beauty. Couple that win with their surprisingly difficult win over Wyoming on Wednesday and it's just another 2-0 week for the Cougars.
Player of the Week: Kawhi Leonard, Sophomore, San Diego State and Jimmer Fredette, Senior, BYU – Nobody in the conference came out and stole this week's award, so I'm going to split the recognition between the two candidates for MWC Player of the Year (yes, I know Fredette's winning this thing going away right now). At the surface, both of these guys had great weeks. Fredette scored 55 points in his two games, while Leonard had 23 points and 25 rebounds on the week. But closer examination reveals flaws for each. Leonard made just ten of his 27 shots, turned the ball over as many times as he handed out assists and missed both of his three-point attempt, while Fredette was just 13-35 from the field and 3-16 from deep, and had nine turnovers to his eight assists. And despite those flaws, these two share the Player of the Week award, in recognition not only for the things they did well this week, but also all that they've done well over the season.
Newcomer of the Week: Hank Thorns, Junior, TCU – It hasn't been a fun season in Fort Worth, but Thorns has been a bright spot. The 5'9 transfer from Virginia Tech leads the conference in assists, with 6.4 dimes per game. This week he added eight more assists in a seven-point loss at San Diego State, but he's also been adding more of a scoring punch, in the wake of the suspension of the Horned Frogs' leading scorer, Ronnie Moss. This week Thorns had 16 points, and while TCU is in the middle of a six-game losing streak, Thorns has averaged 12 points and nine assists in the three games since Moss' suspension.
Game of the Week: San Diego State 56, Colorado State 54 – Playing in front of an emboldened Moby Arena crowd, the Rams were out to prove that they were no pretender. And for 39 minutes and about 50 seconds, they fought the #6 team in the nation to a draw. And then D.J. Gay broke the hearts of the Rams and their 7,353 screaming fans. I linked to it above, but it is good enough to watch again. After CSU's Travis Franklin tied the game at 54 with a strong move to the basket with 10 seconds left, Gay took the inbounds pass, calmly dribbled up court, and, in front of head coach Steve Fisher who had opted to let Gay go to work on his own rather than call a timeout, he knocked down a step-back jumper in the face of CSU's Dorian Green. And then, not to be outdone, he got back on defense and intercepted Adam Nigon's Hail Mary pass as time expired, reminding everyone around the conference why Gay is so important to his team.
Game of the Upcoming Week: New Mexico (16-7, 4-4) at Colorado State (16-7, 6-3), 2/12, 6PM PST, The Mtn. – On a day when San Diego State visits UNLV, I'll take this game as the more important game, the more competitive game and the more exciting game. I may have been a little slow to the party, but I'm finally on board with the Rams as a legitimate NCAA Tournament contender, and I've also been waiting on the Lobos to turn the corner as well. At this point, all signs point to the corner having been turned, so we could be in for a serious battle here. The possibility of a Drew Gordon-Andy Ogide battle up front should be enough to get any college hoops fan interesting, but it could be the battle between Lobo senior point Dairese Gary and Ram sophomore guard Dorian Green that could decide things. Green surprisingly got the best of Gary in the first go-round, holding the Lobo leader scoreless in 34 minutes, but it was Gordon's 16-rebound dominance on the glass that put the Lobos over the top at The Pit. This time around, the Rams will have the home court advantage, but it is unlikely they'll be able to shutout Gary again. The winner here sneaks ahead in the battle for the MWC's potential fourth Tournament bid, but people around the conference have been whispering giddily about the possibility of five teams in the Big Dance.
Power Rankings
1. San Diego State (23-1, 8-1): While the Aztecs did come out of the week with two wins, they also got a bit of a scare on Saturday night when starting guard Chase Tapley and reserve forward Tim Shelton both left the game in the first half with injuries – Tapley's a sprained ankle and Shelton's a foot injury. Neither player returned to the game and both sat on the bench with protective boots on their feet in the second half, but later X-rays revealed no broken bones in either player's case. Shelton, who has had knee injuries end two seasons in his time in San Diego, underwent an MRI on Monday to determine if there was any ligament or tendon damage.
A look ahead: The Aztecs host Utah tonight before traveling to UNLV for a big collision on Saturday.
2. BYU (22-2, 8-1): In recent weeks, this space has turned into a "Cougars Who Aren't Named Jimmer" section, and we'll go back to that well here. While Jackson Emery continued his strong play (27 points, five threes and seven steals this week), Saturday's win over UNLV featured a strong showing from sophomore forward Stephen Rogers, who went for 12 points, a career-high eight rebounds and two three-pointers in 21 minutes. Rogers' chance at significant playing time came after freshman Kyle Collinsworth and junior James Anderson both left the game with injuries – Collinsworth a concussion and Anderson a separated shoulder. While Brandon Davies was a huge factor in the Cougars win over Wyoming on Wednesday, with 20 points and nine rebounds, he was limited by foul trouble on Saturday and struggled home to just four points, his only non-double-digit scoring effort since conference play began.
A look ahead: Sneaky week for the Cougars, with a trip to Air Force on Wednesday and then a visit from Utah for the final MWC edition of the basketball version of the Holy War on Saturday.
3. Colorado State (16-7, 6-3): The Rams played two games decided by five total points this week, and came away with a 1-1 split and a host of believers around the MWC. Rather unbelievably, CSU actually outrebounded the Aztecs, holding them to a mere five rebounds and a 14.3 offensive rebounding percentage. Andy Ogide led the way with 12 rebounds to go with his 18 points, but the Rams were done in by their ability to score against the suffocating SDSU defense, posting just a 38.5 effective field goal percentage. Against Wyoming on Saturday, there was a little bit of a hangover in effect, as Ogide was in foul trouble throughout and scored just 11 points, as the Ram starters combined to go 14-38 from the field. However, they were bailed out by their depth, as CSU's bench outscored the Wyoming reserves by a 23-3 margin. Sophomore Pierce Hornung led the way with ten points and 11 rebounds, his first career double. As a whole, the bench combined to make ten of their 17 field goal attempts.
A look ahead: The Rams get a mid-week bye in advance of their battle with New Mexico on Saturday.
4. UNLV (17-6, 5-4): It's a good thing for the Rebels that they took care of business against Utah on Wednesday, because they never had a chance against BYU on Saturday afternoon. While the Rebs were impressive on the glass against the Cougars (they grabbed almost 40% of all available offensive rebounds, and were solid on the defensive glass), their inability to hit shots on a consistent basis continues to plague them. Against BYU they posted just a 35% effective field goal percentage, and for the season they are just a shade above 50% in that category, good for 110th in the nation. Worse yet, they are shooting less than 30% from three, 318th in the nation. Their defense continues to be elite (they're ninth in the nation in defensive efficiency), but unless they can somehow start putting the ball in the hoop, they're a non-entity come March. Quintrell Thomas led the way against Utah with 15 points and 16 boards, while Anthony Marshall's 16 points, 12 rebounds and four assists against BYU was the only good thing the Rebs had going that day. Chace Stanback continues to be the leading scorer on the team, and he's scored in double figures in six straight games, but UNLV fans keep waiting for last year's Tre'Von Willis to show up. In his four games back since a knee injury kept him out of a couple games, he has only shot 35.9% from the field and averaged 12 points per game, and his quickness and ability to challenge defenders and get to the line is a pale imitation of the Willis from '09-'10.
A look ahead: The Rebels visit TCU on Wednesday, with a chance to build up their confidence before heading into a huge home game with the Aztecs on Saturday. If the Rebels are going to get their mojo back, it has to start on Saturday by breaking SDSU's three-game win streak in the series.
5. New Mexico (16-7, 4-4): After a terrible 1-4 start in conference play, the Lobos have now strung together three straight wins to get back to .500. This week they went to Air Force and looked impressive in helping head coach Steve Alford to his 400th career win, before getting a weekend bye. Drew Gordon led the way with 17 points and six rebounds, Dairese Gary added eight assists and the Lobos won by 14.
A look ahead: The Lobos host Wyoming on Wednesday in what is bound to be an emotional game for the Cowboys in their first game without head coach Heath Schroyer. If the Lobos can get through that game, their battle with Colorado State on Saturday will be huge.
6. Air Force (13-9, 4-5): In the home loss against New Mexico, the Falcons were just outclassed. But on Saturday, they played a strong game at Utah and came away with a five-point win. Against the bigger and stronger Utes, the Falcons went against type and hit the glass hard and effectively, grabbing a sparkling 90.6% of all defensive rebounds and a solid 24.3% of the offensive rebounds. Sophomore Zach Bohannon impressed, posting career highs in points (12), rebounds (8) and assists (5) and the Falcons led every step of the way after ripping off a 14-2 run to break a 2-2 tie early in the game.
A look ahead: Air Force's sole game of the week is a visit from BYU on Wednesday night. They slow it down, ugly the game up and try to control Fredette in the hopes of keeping in contact as far as the under-four timeout. If they can do that much, anything can happen down the stretch.
7. Utah (10-13, 3-6): The head coach at Utah prior to Jim Boylen was Ray Giacoletti. He won a MWC championship in his first season and advanced the Utes to a Sweet 16. Two straight 6-10 years later, he was the ex-Utah coach. This is Boylen's 4th season as the head coach in Salt Lake City. In his second year, his Utes won the MWC championship before losing in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. Last season, they finished 7-9. But with the Utes stepping up to the Pac-10 next season, last season's mass exodus of players not too far back in the rearview mirror, and with history saying the Utah athletic department isn't fond of consecutive losing seasons for its basketball program, it might be a good idea for the Utes to finish this season strongly if Boylen expects to be back next year. This week's two losses, especially the home loss against Air Force on Saturday during which the home crowd did not hesitate to show its displeasure, did not do Boylen any favors. Yes, he's had to deal with a nearly complete roster overhaul that has been exacerbated by injuries, and he's a well-respected man in his profession, but if the Utes don't finish this season strongly, you can bet the athletic department will be entertaining thoughts of a new head coach.
A look ahead: Given the above, this week is absolutely brutal. A trip to San Diego State tonight, a trip to Provo to face BYU on Saturday, and in all likelihood, a 3-8 conference record come Sunday morning.
8. TCU (10-14, 1-8): Much like the Utes, the Horned Frogs have a transition to a higher level of basketball in the near future, as they'll join the Big East in '12-'13. With head coach Jim Christian, now in his third season, having never posted a winning record in Fort Worth, he can't be resting all too comfortably, especially given the fact that he has just suspended his best player in Ronnie Moss, a player who in all likelihood will not wear a Horned Frog uniform again. The fact is, this roster is pretty devoid of talent, and doesn't compare favorably with even some of the truly bad teams at the bottom of the Big East. If TCU decides that Christian isn't the man for the future of this program, do they decide to go a different way immediately, giving the new head coach a couple years worth of recruiting before being thrown into the Big East gauntlet? Or does Christian get one more year to turn it around, with the Horned Frogs using a new head coach in 2012 to generate some type of buzz before heading into the Big East? My educated guess? Given that Christian still has four years on his contract – after receiving a two-year extension following his first season in Fort Worth – given that the basketball is clearly a distant second in importance to the TCU football program (and may even be third behind baseball), and given that the previous head coach left the program in total disarray, I suspect Christian will get another season. An added bonus: if the Horned Frogs do wind up with a new head coach in their first year in the Big East, that's a good excuse for their inability to keep up with the big boys of college basketball.
A look ahead: UNLV visits Fort Worth on Saturday, then the Frogs visit Laramie in a spectacular preview of the 8/9 game at the MWC Tournament.
9. Wyoming (8-15, 1-8): At Wyoming, they no longer have the same decision to make that the two programs above have to make. Schroyer is gone, assistant coach Fred Langley has been promoted to interim coach and the only decision that remains to be made is who is next. The early leader is BYU associate head coach Dave Rice, but Wyoming has a nice head start on searching for a new head man. As for the Schroyer era, the final tally stands at 49-68 over the course of almost four years, but his lasting legacy may be cleaning up the academic and off-court performance of the team. Given the substandard facilities at Wyoming, Schroyer was fighting an uphill battle the whole way, but he never got any momentum going. It was somewhat surprising that he was fired in the middle of the season, as all indications were that any decisions about his future would be made after the season, but there was no real suspense as to whether he would return or not. The ironic part is, this firing came after a week in which the Cowboys played BYU down to the wire, then gave Colorado State all they could handle before coming up short.
A look ahead: Wyoming travels to New Mexico for their first game in the Langley era, then return home to host TCU on Saturday.


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Starting as of September 10th, BlackBerry users will have to their BlackBerry device to register any email account they have. Rogers is the first to drop the online web portal in an effort to reduce support costs associated with offering the service. All of this according to an email that Rogers has sent to their reps. This is due in part of the high volume of support calls asking for password resets. This is a move that other carriers may look at to reduce their support costs.
Here is the email that the carrier sent out to it's reps:
**BlackBerry Internet Service (BIS) Update**
Email setup is now only available on the BlackBerry for new customers
Beginning September 10, 2010, new BlackBerry ® customers must use their BlackBerry device to set up their BIS email address. The online activation/set-up option is no longer available to new BlackBerry customers.
Please note that existing customers using the online functionality will not be impacted and may continue to use the online BIS activation/set-up option.
Why are we removing the online set-up functionality?
Customers attempting to manage their email addresses on rogers.com often forget their password, which results in a high number of password-related calls in to the call centres. Customers who set up their BIS email on their device dont need a password since the device saves their username and password after initial setup.
What changes on our websites?
New BlackBerry customers will no longer have the option to create a new account using Research In Motions BIS email website located at rogers.blackberry.com . Customers must be directed to their device to set up their email.
For more information, please contact your Rogers representative.[blackberrycool.com]
Since the device does not require a password to setup your email account's we may end up seeing this trend with other carriers sooner that later.
What do you think? Is the online portals really necessary since the device does a pretty good job in setting up your email accounts?

subset: commoncrawl


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Blog Archives
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Join Dr Chan and Tam in yet another earthy discussion about food and consciousness growth.
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Does what we each think, speak, or believe about a country, help to shape events, social norms and cultural phenomena?
Find out how your own affirmations help heal entire nations.
Awaken your True Self by sharing with hosts, guests and fellow listeners on Growing Consciousness internet radio. Growing Consciousness takes you on an inner journey.
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Corbett promises liquor proceeds to schools
Governor wants to auction 1,200 wine, liquor store licenses
Gov. Tom Corbett said his plan to auction 1,200 wine and liquor store licenses and open beer and wine sales to a broad array of retailers would commit the proceeds to education.
Information distributed by Corbett's office Wednesday said the Republican governor expects the plan would generate an additional $1 billion in revenue to the state over several years.
Corbett's office said most of the revenue would come from auctioning wholesale liquor licenses. Auctioning and selling retail licenses to sell wine, liquor or beer would generate the remainder.
The plan involves shutting down the more than 600 state-owned wine and liquor stores as a prelude to auctioning private retail licenses.
Corbett said the money would be used to create a Passport for Learning block grant to distribute to public schools.


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The contents of the pages of this site are presented as information only and CITC will not accept any liability from any party for any decisions or actions taken or will be taken by that party pursuant to these information.
In regard to other sites connected with this site, CITC is neither responsible for their contents or general profile and profile of their internal pages nor the correctness of the information stated thereof. No responsibility of whatever type from any party in regard to this matter will be accepted by CITC.


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Battle of Vicksburg
From mid-October 1862, Maj. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant made several attempts to take Vicksburg. Following failures in the first attempts, the Battle of Chickasaw Bluffs, the Yazoo Pass Expedition, and Steele's Bayou Expedition, in the spring of 1863, he prepared to cross his troops from the west bank of the Mississippi River to a point south of Vicksburg and drive against the city from the south and east. Commanding Confederate batteries at Port Hudson, LA, farther south prevented the transportation of waterborne supply and any communication from Union forces in Baton Rouge and New Orleans.
Naval support for his campaign would have to come from Rear Adm. David D. Porter's fleet north of Vicksburg. Running past the powerful Vicksburg batteries, Porter's vessels, once south of the city, could ferry Federals to the east bank. There infantry would face two Confederate forces, one under Lt. Gen. John C. Pemberton at Vicksburg and another around Jackson, MS, soon to be commanded by Gen. Joseph E. Johnston.
In January 1863, Grant organized his force into the XI Corps under Maj. Gen. John A. McClernand, the XV Corps under Maj. Gen. William T. Sherman, the XVI Corps under Maj. Gen. Stephen A. Hurlbut, and the XVII Corps under Maj. Gen. James B. McPherson. Simultaneous with Grant's Vicksburg offensive, Maj. Gen. Nathaniel P. Banks began his maneuvering along the Red River in Louisiana. Hurlbut's corps was subsequently transferred to New Orleans. With his three remaining corps, Grant began operations late in March. On the May 29 and 30, McClernand's and McPherson's men, at Milliken's Bend and Lake Providence, northwest of Vicksburg, began working their way south, building a military road to New Carthage, LA, preparatory to a move south to Hard Times, LA, a village opposite Bruinsburg, MS.
On the night of April 16, at Grant's request, Porter took 12 vessels south past the Vicksburg batteries, losing one to Confederate fire. On April 17, Grierson's Raid began. Led by Brig. Gen. Benjamin H. Grierson, Federal cavalry left La Grange, TN, for 16 days riding through central Mississippi to Baton Rouge, La., pulling away large units from Vicksburg's defense to pursue them. Porter, encouraged by light losses on his first try, ran a large supply flotilla past the Vicksburg batteries the night of April 22, Sherman's troops, many at work on a canal project at Duckport, abandoned this work, joined in a last action along the Yazoo River, northeast of Vicksburg, and April 29-30 made a demonstration against Confederate works at Haynes' Bluff and Drumgould's Bluffs, diverting more of Pemberton's force.
Also on April 29., as McClernand's and McPherson's troops gathered near Hard Times, Porter's fleet assailed Confederate batteries at Grand Gulf, 33 miles southwest of Vicksburg, testing the Grand Gulf area as a landing site for Union troops. Though Porter found the guns there too strong, he had succeeded in further diverting Pemberton in Vicksburg.
Grant originally had determined that Rodney, MS, would be the starting point of his invasion, but took the advice of a local slave and picked Bruinsburg instead. McClernand's and McPherson's corps were ferried east across the Mississippi from Hard Times April 30 That day Grant sent word north for Sherman to follow McPherson's route south and join him.
On May 1, the Federal invasion force engaged the Confederates in the Battle of Port Gibson. Pemberton had just over 40,000 men assigned to the Vicksburg region. Because they were scattered throughout the area, chasing Grierson and wary of Sherman, few of them could be brought to bear against Grant on short notice. Defeated at Port Gibson, Pemberton's troops moved north. Grant, to Pemberton's confusion, pushed northeast. Sherman's corps joined him May 8, and May 12 the engagement at Raymond was fought. Johnston took personal command of Confederates at Jackson, 15 miles northeast of Raymond, May 13. On May 14, Federals quickly won an engagement at Jackson, cut off Johnston from Pemberton, and ensured the latter's isolation for the rest of the campaign. In two weeks, Grant's force had come well over 130 miles northeast from their Bruinsburg landing site.
Ordering Sherman to destroy Jackson's heavy industry and rail facilities, Grant turned west, roughly following the Southern Mississippi Railroad to Bolton, and May 16 fought the climactic combat of his field campaign, the Battle Of Champion's Hill. With the largest force he had yet gathered to oppose Grant, Pemberton nevertheless took a beating there and pulled his army into the defenses of Vicksburg. In a delaying battle at Big Black River Bridge, May 17, Confederates crossed the Big Black, destroying their river crossings behind them. Undeterred, Federals threw up their own bridges and continued pursuit the next day.
Approaching from the east and northeast, McClernand's, McPherson's, and Sherman's corps neared the Vicksburg defenses May 18, Sherman's veering north to take the hills overlooking the Yazoo River. Possession of these heights assured Grant's reinforcement and supply from the North. The next day Federals made the failed first assault on Vicksburg. The second assault, May 22, was a disaster for Union forces, showed the strength of the miles of Confederate works arching east around the city, and convinced Grant that Pemberton could only be defeated in a protracted siege.
The siege of Vicksburg began with the repulse of the May 22 assault and lasted until July 4, 1863. As the siege progressed, Pemberton's 20,000-man garrison was reduced by disease and starvation, and the city's residents were forced to seek the refuge of caves and bombproofs in the surrounding hillsides, Hunger and daily bombardments by Grant's forces and Porter's gunboats compelled Pemberton to ask for surrender terms July 3. Grant offered none, but on the garrison's capitulation immediately paroled the bulk of the force. Many of these same men would later oppose him at Chattanooga.
Pemberton's surrender ended the Vicksburg Campaign. But, during the siege, to the east Johnston had raised a 31,000-man force in the Jackson area. On July 4, as Confederates were being paroled, Sherman moved his force to oppose this new threat. Sherman's march would result in the Siege of Jackson.


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Jos Haigh, a scientist by training, is an enthusiastic artist with a big, bright and bold style. She enjoys experimenting with unconventional combinations and creating the unexpected, believing that all colours can go together.
Jos paints in acrylics and watercolours switching between the two depending on theme and mood. Although self-taught, she is constantly researching and practising new techniques.
In 2016 she was selected among the finalists in a New Artist Competition run by one of the country's leading art publishing houses and is delighted now to have joined the Buckingham stable to artists.


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Furiends, three is a magic number… I have three canine slaves now! Annabelle is a ten week old long coat chihuahua! She's tiny but mighty and the purrfect boat sized dog to complete our crew!
She was a gift from a dear furiend of ours, Marina, as an early wedding present for my humans. She arrived today looking gorgeous!
It was the first time I've ever met a chihuahua and I was curious at first. Mum told me that she's the purrfect size to be my chief of staff and whip April and Blue into shape once I've trained her up.
April and Blue had dinner with Annabelle and she fit straight in.
We're all very excited and happy to welcome Annabelle into our family. I'd like to remind everyone that dogs, and all animals for that matter, are a lifelong commitment and should never be taken on lightly. Annabelle is a beautiful gift from a dear furiend but everyone discussed and thought about her best interests and needs at length. She is extremely tiny at the moment and will not be left unattended with anyone until she's old enough and big enough to answer to my orders and boss April and Blue around.
Thank you so much Marina, we all love our new crew member.
Bisous, Bailey


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March 07, 2013
City News Service
A "Smart911" system was unveiled this week in Culver City, the first location in the state to use technology that allows residents to give authorities a "safety profile" that will be displayed to 911 operators during an emergency.
"Smart911 will allow both our 911 call takers and emergency responders to have more detailed information about a citizen in need, leading to faster response times and ultimately more lives saved," said Culver City Mayor Andrew Weissman. Smart911 allows citizens to create a safety profile for their household that includes any information they want 911 and emergency response teams to have in the event of an emergency, said Culver City police Lt. Ron Iizuka. When a citizen makes an emergency call, their safety profile is automatically displayed to the 911call taker, Iizuka said.
"This allows them to send the right response teams to the right location with the right information," Iizuka said.
"Fire crews can be aware of such things as how many people live at a home and the location of bedrooms," he said. "Paramedics can know about specific conditions for fast, precise medical treatment. And because profiles can contain photos, in the event of a missing child, police can gain an advantage, receiving critical information in seconds, versus hours."
Smart911, which is available in 28 states and more than 350 municipalities, was introduced less than two years ago by Rave Mobile Safety.
"When people call 911 and can't speak, the information that is available to 911 on that incoming call is limited, often only to a phone number and general location," said Tom Axbey of Rave Mobile Safety.
"When citizens elect to put more information in the hands of emergency responders prior to an emergency, they enable faster and more knowledgeable response, protecting not only themselves but their families as well," he said.


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Around the corner from stacks of baby shoes, counterfeit Gucci wallets, and spangled iPhone cases, I got burned copies of Jean Cocteau's Orpheus trilogy at an outdoor market in Mexico City.
A Sunday afternoon in Roma Norte, I was drinking coffee with new friends. The city was new to me and I had only arrived late the night before. We jumped in a cab and directed the driver to a market a little way outside the center of town.
Miguel said he was going to pick up a copy of Pigsty there. I was confused at first, assuming it had to be something other than the 1969 Italian film, but indeed that was the one he meant. Seemed an implausible feat to find a physical copy of any Passolini movie, let alone a more obscure selection, anywhere without paying for shipping and waiting at least a week. But I didn't say anything then.
"He's not going to find the Passolini film here," Manuel said, as we were wandering through Tepito's labyrinth of tents. It was mostly pirated goods: branded tennis shoes, video games, and handbags; but with some intention to the ordering of the inventory. Suppliers tended to specialize in certain items, one might carry only knock-offs of a single particular designer label, another sold only anime DVDs. Tepito sometimes functions as a wholesaler for vendors who operate smaller streetside sales. We walked through the section that was largely physical media for sale— Blue-ray, DVD, and CDs with covers varying from identical to the original to very handmade-looking inkjet prints. I was told that sometimes you could see vendors burning these disks in the back of the tents.
One of the tents had a sign out front, "Cine de Arte." Inside a dozen densely packed shelves included classic art house fare like 400 Blows, Breathless, Paris Texas, and L'eclisse. Each with a cover made of ordinary printer paper inside a flimsy plastic sleeve...


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Posted by Seth on January 12, 1998 at 18:12:13:
In Reply to: Re: 2 IRS Agents Expose it all posted by Common Right Group on January 09, 1998 at 05:52:58:
: Joe and ....
: Do you guys or either of you have a private e-mail address? If you feel paranoid about giving it out publicly, we understand and don't blame you. If you are suspicious of us, take another peek at some of our posts. True, we don't overtly antagonize the beast, but we aren't crawling underr rocks either. We'd like to communicate with you a little on a one-to-one basis, if you are willing. You may send us your e-mail "slot" by using ours, thus keeping it out of the mainstream of traffic.
: We are a little curious about your failure to mention 4 USC 72. Some of our greatest successes with federales of any color, shape, or size, have come from wheeling that little, easy to remember, statute out of the woodwork, just like the IRS ( an entity that does not lawfully exist except under P.R. Trust #62 - as you said ), likes to wheel out the anti-injunction statute, which, of course, only applies to the collection of a 'legitimate' tax.
: Actually, we have found, after about five years of buying silver bullets (finally quit that) and reading everything - twice - that Otto Skinner's book (....Loophole...) is the best overall, and cuts past the frills and foolishness pretty doggoned well.
: 'Names' are private property.
How can I get a copy of Otto Skinner's book?
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CCA annual senior supper Oct. 27
TIFFIN– On Saturday, Oct. 27, at 6:30 p.m. the Clear Creek Amana (CCA) Student Assistance Team/Interact club will host its annual senior supper (and no, it's not for 12th graders).
Any district patron over the age of 55 is welcome to come eat a ham or turkey supper provided by students. Tours of the school and card games will be held after the meal. Please call the high school at 319-545-5623 by Oct. 20 if you wish to attend.


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article courtesy of Joe Jablonowski
Would you buy a computer that could only "talk" with just a couple of other devices, like a printer and one other desktop? Neither would most people. They'd make sure their new unit has all the ports and protocols that will get them to the whole outside world.
The same should hold true for machine tools and other factory-floor devices, argue the people behind MTConnect, the standard for interconnection of manufacturing equipment. At the Emerging Technology Center—just off the main concourse in the North Building—representatives from the MTConnect Institute can demonstrate why you should make sure any computer-capable equipment you're shopping for will also support the interoperability protocol, regardless of what communications system is already built in.
It has to do with managing the data on your shop floor. By monitoring inputs like machine availability and performance you can get a 20-percent improvement in overall efficiency, some analysts say. Enabling those connections is why the protocol was launched in the first place. Now the latest edition of the standard, Version 1.2, also handles data about mobile assets like non-vendor-specific cutting tools: How long has this cutter been in use? When was it reconditioned? Future versions—the protocol purposely was designed to be extensible—will further handle information on individual workpieces.
At its heart, MTConnect is just a vehicle for information, a streamlined way of connecting production equipment with the kind of software that can help manage it. Once installed, it fades into the background, kind of like Bluetooth, says Dave Edstrom, president of the MTConnect Institute. Since it's an open standard, it doesn't limit choices for future expansion.
Introduced at IMTS 2008, MTConnect is now used in nearly 1,000 installations, with many of those being pilot projects for proof-of-concept. According to Edstrom, some users consider it a competitive edge and are leery of discussing their experiences; others have become apostles, with their stories appearing in metalworking magazines and on the institute's website, mtconnect.org.
The institute itself has about 100 corporate members, and the majority of those also serve on the technical advisory group that drives evolution of the standard. The biggest names in machine tools, numerical controllers and factory-level software producers are aboard, but so are makers of conveyors, tool presetters and inspection equipment. Many, of course, are exhibitors here in Chicago.
Which brings us to the demonstrations here at IMTS. Dozens of firms ranging from Okuma to Optical Gaging to AgieCharmilles are linking machine operations in their booths to monitors in the central Emerging Technology Center. Additionally, companies like Mazak and Bosch are showing within their own exhibit how they integrate data from clusters of machines in order to understand hidden costs or discover untapped capacity. Stop by the ETC to see which other firms have joined the MTConnect bandwagon. While you're there, ask a staffer from partner organizations like the Connecticut Center for Advanced Technology or TechSolve for details on how to implement intercommunications on your own factory floor.


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Listening to the news on the radio and hearing that a great white was seen by a whale watching tour attacking a seal in the Bay of Fundy and then turning on the tv to see what is on, AMC is having a JAWS marathon.
Listening to the news on the radio and hearing that a great white was seen by a whale watching tour attacking a seal in the Bay of Fundy and then turning on the tv to see what is on, AMC is having a JAWS marathon.
From the wilderness into the cosmos.
You can not be afraid of the wind, Enterprise: Broken Bow.
This will be a rerun, but I will post it for the amusement of newcomers to this forum. It concerns examples of goofy military writing style.
As I entered our local military installation this morning I was greeted by a sign at the gate that said, "No weapons of any type are authorized on the installation." Just inside the gate the guard who checked my military ID card and admitted me was armed not only with an automatic pistol but also an M16 with a scope. I am certain to a moral certainty that those weapons were real and authorized. Of course I know the intended meaning of the sign, which is that the possession and carrying of unauthorized weapons is prohibited.
On a box full of seedless watermelons in the commissary was a large label that said, "Melon, water, seedless." This was based on formal supply documentation which typically puts the noun first, followed by adjectives if any. It did not allow for watermelon being a single word.
That's rather like "This door must remain closed at all times."
Not much of a door then, is it?
"The sum total of all human knowledge..."
The greatest journey of all time, for all to see
Every mission makes our dreams reality
And our destiny begins with you and me
Through all space and time, the achievement of mankind
As we sail the sea of discovery, on heroes wings we fly!
From the wilderness into the cosmos.
You can not be afraid of the wind, Enterprise: Broken Bow.
My rabbit math problem was apparently a trick question. The answer is three, since all the last litter have now died and the dad is fixed.
Cum catapultae proscriptae erunt tum soli proscript catapultas habebunt.
Order of Kilopi
My last word on the subject. I guess. I tweaked my program a bit, and switched to a compiler that had bigger integer and long integer types, this reaching 5 years without some elaborate math for extra precision. I also put commas in the numbers to make them more readable, and output the total days as years|days. I couldn't get tabbing to work, so the columns don't quite line up, but enough is enough. I'll spare you the code (though I'll provide it to any prospective rabbit counters out there). The numbers:
I get 12.3 billion approaching the end of year 5, and 16.4 billion a few days into the new year. Someone can interpolate.Code:Days, Yrs|Days, F_Rabbits, M_Rabbits, Total_Rabbits 0 0|000 1 1 2 183 0|183 3 4 7 205 0|205 5 7 12 227 0|227 8 9 17 249 0|249 10 12 22 271 0|271 13 14 27 293 0|293 16 16 32 315 0|315 18 19 37 337 0|337 21 21 42 359 0|359 29 28 57 381 1|016 42 40 82 403 1|038 62 60 122 425 1|060 87 85 172 447 1|082 120 117 237 469 1|104 160 157 317 491 1|126 205 202 407 513 1|148 258 254 512 535 1|170 330 327 657 557 1|192 435 432 867 579 1|214 590 587 1,177 601 1|236 808 804 1,612 623 1|258 1,108 1,104 2,212 645 1|280 1,508 1,504 3,012 667 1|302 2,021 2,016 4,037 689 1|324 2,666 2,661 5,327 711 1|346 3,491 3,486 6,977 733 2|003 4,578 4,574 9,152 755 2|025 6,053 6,049 12,102 777 2|047 8,073 8,069 16,142 799 2|069 10,843 10,839 21,682 821 2|091 14,613 14,609 29,222 843 2|113 19,666 19,661 39,327 865 2|135 26,331 26,326 52,657 887 2|157 35,058 35,054 70,112 909 2|179 46,503 46,499 93,002 931 2|201 61,636 61,631 123,267 953 2|223 81,819 81,813 163,632 975 2|245 108,926 108,921 217,847 997 2|267 145,458 145,454 290,912 1,019 2|289 194,623 194,619 389,242 1,041 2|311 260,451 260,446 520,897 1,063 2|333 348,096 348,091 696,187 1,085 2|355 464,353 464,349 928,702 1,107 3|012 618,443 618,439 1,236,882 1,129 3|034 822,991 822,986 1,645,977 1,151 3|056 1,095,306 1,095,301 2,190,607 1,173 3|078 1,458,951 1,458,946 2,917,897 1,195 3|100 1,945,509 1,945,503 3,891,012 1,217 3|122 2,596,637 2,596,630 5,193,267 1,239 3|144 3,466,877 3,466,870 6,933,747 1,261 3|166 4,627,760 4,627,752 9,255,512 1,283 3|188 6,173,867 6,173,860 12,347,727 1,305 3|210 8,231,344 8,231,338 16,462,682 1,327 3|232 10,969,609 10,969,603 21,939,212 1,349 3|254 14,616,986 14,616,981 29,233,967 1,371 3|276 19,480,758 19,480,754 38,961,512 1,393 3|298 25,972,351 25,972,346 51,944,697 1,415 3|320 34,639,544 34,639,538 69,279,082 1,437 3|342 46,208,944 46,208,938 92,417,882 1,459 3|364 61,643,611 61,643,606 123,287,217 1,481 4|021 82,221,971 82,221,966 164,443,937 1,503 4|043 109,645,993 109,645,989 219,291,982 1,525 4|065 146,188,458 146,188,454 292,376,912 1,547 4|087 194,890,353 194,890,349 389,780,702 1,569 4|109 259,821,231 259,821,226 519,642,457 1,591 4|131 346,420,091 346,420,086 692,840,177 1,613 4|153 461,942,451 461,942,446 923,884,897 1,635 4|175 616,051,479 616,051,473 1,232,102,952 1,657 4|197 821,606,406 821,606,401 1,643,212,807 1,679 4|219 1,095,721,388 1,095,721,384 2,191,442,772 1,701 4|241 1,461,192,533 1,461,192,529 2,922,385,062 1,723 4|263 1,948,418,415 1,948,418,412 3,896,836,827 1,745 4|285 2,597,971,493 2,597,971,489 5,195,942,982 1,767 4|307 3,464,021,721 3,464,021,716 6,928,043,437 1,789 4|329 4,618,877,848 4,618,877,844 9,237,755,692 1,811 4|351 6,159,006,546 6,159,006,541 12,318,013,087 1,833 5|008 8,213,022,561 8,213,022,556 16,426,045,117
Or, you can cheat: count the big ears and divide by two.
I'm thinking of starting a new thread. I don't know what it is for or what to call it. Perhaps "Observing" or "Poetry". Not sure.
We have strange skies tonight. Light, fluffy clouds to the north, south and east, with the moon shining in the southeast among the brightest stars. From the south, the sound of trains and the gong of railroad crossings. And in the west, indeterminately grey night skies, with flashbulb lightning, jumping from cloud to cloud. Reds, yellows and whites. Pop. Pop. Pop. It's a strange sky tonight.
I hate linkedin, as it's gone from "my actual connections" to workish-facebooky-connection-collection. And spammy.
Still, I did a connection request a few days ago (to someone I've actually worked with) and today got the email from the system that they'd accepted.
The email says "Reach out to <name>" and has suggested text "<Name>, thanks for connecting! Hope you're doing well.". And there's a button to "Start with this note".
First I was a little disgusted that they want to lead/control/manipulate conversations like this. Seems so fake, so cynical.
Second I wondered if maybe it's actually helpful for the (I've seen claimed ...) 80% of I.T. people who are "on the spectrum". i.e. may need help in social situations? Do we need the "help"?
Third, I was reminded of the suggested replies in text messaging I get on my Android phone. I wonder how many conversations go on for some time with neither party paying attention, just clicking an auto-reply.
Passing the Turing test* by default.
(* yeah, that's not right.)
Measure once, cut twice. Practice makes perfect.
As above, so below
Yesterday I put together the new patio furniture my wife wanted. Part way through the process it started t rain, so I went inside to wait it out. My wife asked why I had come inside.
"It's raining."
"No, it's not. There's no rain in the forecast for today."
Silly me.
ETA: 0.4" of "no rain."
Never attribute to malice that which can be adequately explained by ignorance or stupidity.
Isaac Asimov
You know, the very powerful and the very stupid have one thing in common. They dont alter their views to fit the facts. They alter the facts to fit their views.
Doctor Who
Moderation will be in purple.
Rules for Posting to This Board
At night the stars put on a show for free (Carole King)
All moderation in purple - The rules
Our faire neighbour told me yesterday, as we were tearing down, that being next to us (which she has been for the last few years) is always "entertaining." We are a large booth full of easily amused people.
"Now everyone was giving her that kind of look UFOlogists get when they suddenly say, 'Hey, if you shade your eyes you can see it is just a flock of geese after all.'"
"You can't erase icing."
"I can't believe it doesn't work! I found it on the internet, man!"
Never attribute to malice that which can be adequately explained by ignorance or stupidity.
Isaac Asimov
You know, the very powerful and the very stupid have one thing in common. They dont alter their views to fit the facts. They alter the facts to fit their views.
Doctor Who
Moderation will be in purple.
Rules for Posting to This Board
Hey, I managed to change an entry in Wikipedia! All I needed to do was write a blog post pointing out that it contained stuff that had just plain been made up by an editor, then wait two years. After my post had been quoted twice on the relevant Talk page, they eventually took the fictional content down, a mere fourteen years after the first objection to it had been raised, and long after the "information" it contained had escaped into the wilds of the internet.
Grant Hutchison
The greatest journey of all time, for all to see
Every mission makes our dreams reality
And our destiny begins with you and me
Through all space and time, the achievement of mankind
As we sail the sea of discovery, on heroes wings we fly!
We accidentally destroyed a microwave at work. A bag of popcorn was put in for 40 minutes instead of 4. We caught on to what was happening when smoke filled the room. We got to use a fire extinguisher that day.
We have a new microwave. The new microwave plays a couple of random songs when it is done, instead of simple "ding!". I've heard La Cucaracha, The Shock of Miss Louise, Rain Drops Keep Falling On Head, and a few that I can't identify.
This behavior in an appliance is so odd, for weeks we didn't know what was happening. The microwave would finish, play a song and everyone would check their phone trying to figure out where the music was coming from. Then they would complain that the microwave never alerted them that it was done cooking... Slowly, we figured it out one by one. But only because someone was in the breakroom by themselves and realized what was happening, which is a lousy way to communicate with other people.
What is very annoying is, we can either let it play a random song or only one from a list. The list is labeled song 1, song 2, song 3 and so on. None of the choices are good.
One of my coworkers is a comedian. When he's on break, he will play Song 2 by Blur when the microwave is done. I told him microwave pizza isn't that exciting. The amusing bit is, he is actually good at selecting ironic music for whatever meal you are eating.
"Somebody's knocking but they can't come in"
Anyway, writing about the problem gave me a little fun, which is more than I'd have had if I got involved with trying to edit the page myself.
Grant Hutchison
Last edited by grant hutchison; 2019-Aug-20 at 09:17 PM.
Grant Hutchison
Every once and while they try to get professional football in my region the country (CFL not NFL), since the population is law there is a bit of fight over which city gets to host the exhibition game. In a few days they will have on a university campus, but except for people who need accessible parking none of the parking at the university will be used.
From the wilderness into the cosmos.
You can not be afraid of the wind, Enterprise: Broken Bow.
My class stood outside six times last week as the fire engines rolled up. And no one was cooking popcorn. Three times in one day. One child pulled the fire alarm in front a student from a different class. That student preceded to do the same exact thing, which lead to the fire alarm being pull the last time.
As frustrating as it was, it is better than the alternative. Two of the kiddos pulling the alarms did so because this is their first year in school. Heck, they aren't even potty trained and they are theoretically third graders or older. (8-10 years old).
When I was in elementary school, the alarm went off one day when the teachers weren't expecting a drill. We were hustled out rather quickly and about every fire truck in town turned up. It turned out one of the janitors was trying to clean the alarm handle thing.
Cum catapultae proscriptae erunt tum soli proscript catapultas habebunt.
Last year, I had a student that seemed to be completely illiterate until he accessed the break room. He read a sign that said: "You can now purchase snacks with an IOU. Please settle your account on payday." He bought $20.00 worth of snacks with IOUs, with my name on them, plus the date and the correct dollar amount. The really comedy was he was a creature of habit and also wrote his name on the top of every IOU. It was worth $20 bucks to know that he could read, tell the date, write and do proper math far more than he let on.
The same student tried to tell me he was afraid to read aloud. I asked him if knew what that was called. He said, "no" so I told him "Nothing, no one is afraid to read aloud." The next day he told me he googled it and the answer was... I can't remember what the word is.
Having gotten an answer, I asked him if he could read silently to the class. After a minute or two another student said, "I can't hear anything", so the first student raised his voice. That's pretty much how it goes in that classroom now.
The second student is now in a different class, but always asks: "Are we fooling around, or can I read out loud?"


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Recommended Books
The following are recommended books for parents and educators.
The term 'special education' encompasses dozens of learning challenges: developmental delay, learning and physical disabilities, emotional disturbance, retardation, language impairment, autism, and others. By nature of this diversity, navigating even well-run, well-funded special education programs can be daunting. A Parent's Guide to Special Education offers invaluable information and a positive vision of special education that will help them through a potentially overwhelming process. Filled with practical recommendations, sample forms, and enlightening examples, this is a priceless resource for helping every child learn.
The Third Edition of the highly acclaimed Encyclopedia of Special Education has been thoroughly updated to include the latest information about new legislation and guidelines. In addition, this comprehensive resource features school psychology, neuropsychology, reviews of new tests and curricula that have been developed since publication of the second edition in 1999, and new biographies of important figures in special education. Unique in focus, the Encyclopedia of Special Education, Third Edition addresses issues of importance ranging from theory to practice and is a critical reference for researchers as well as those working in the special education field.
*This is a 3 volume set. Books can be purchased individually or as a set.
This book is intended to serve as a freestanding reference for teachers whose classes include students with academic or behavioral difficulties. The recommended best practices were originally developed for students with disabilities but have been found to be effective with all students. Each chapter provides principles, suggestions and specific tools (such as sample check lists, rubrics, forms, word lists, observation guides, planning guides, and lesson plans).
Negotiating the Special Education Maze is one of the best tools available to parents and teachers for developing an effective education program for their child or student. Every step is explained, from eligibility and evaluation to the Individualized Education Program (IEP) and beyond. This edition covers changes in disability laws, including the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). It reviews early intervention services for children from birth to age three, and for those who have young adults with special needs, it also covers transitioning out of school.
An engaging must-read for any parent, educator, or counselor of smart kids who face learning difficulties. The authors, who have more than 20 years experience working with and advocating for gifted and learning diabled children, provide useful, practical advice for helping smart kids with learning challenges succeed in school.
This text presents IDEA, other pertinent federal laws, and federal cases in a clear, well-organized manner in order to help educators understand and apply their knowledge in concrete situations. This practical book emphasizes students' understanding at a conceptual level rather than mere memorization of the detailed provisions of these laws. Educators are thereby prepared to adjust to future amendments to IDEA and other laws and to apply statutory provisions to specific situations. The four sections of the text address the Constitutional Frameworks of education laws, IDEA, RA and ADA, and other legal issues such as No Child Left Behind, tort liability, and high stakes testing.
The Individualized Education Program, or IEP, determines the nuts and bolts of your child's special education. This includes the specific classroom set up, curricula, support services, and program and educational goals. Understanding every aspect of the IEP process will help you avoid surprises along the way. The Complete IEP Guide walks you step-by-step through the IEP process. The book provides all the instructions, suggestions, strategies, resources and forms you need to proceed from the beginning, when you first suspect a problem, to the end, when your child completes school.
Labeled "dyslexic and profoundly learning disabled with attention and behavior problems," Jonathan Mooney was a short bus rider — a derogatory term used for kids in special education and a distinction that told the world he wasn't "normal." Along with other kids with special challenges, he grew up hearing himself denigrated daily. Ultimately, Mooney surprised skeptics by graduating with honors from Brown University. But he could never escape his past, so he hit the road. To free himself and to learn how others had moved beyond labels, he created an epic journey. He would buy his own short bus and set out cross-country, looking for kids who had dreamed up magical, beautiful ways to overcome the obstacles that separated them from the so-called normal world.
*This book contains adult language.
Written for educators who work with special children and teens, this second edition of a best-selling classic offers a practical guide to every facet of the special education teacher's job, from teaching in a self-contained classroom or resource room to serving on a multidisciplinary team. This easy-to-follow format, takes you step by step through the various stages required to understand the referral process, parent intakes and conferences, evaluation, interpretation, diagnosis, remediation, placement, individual education plans, classroom management, medication, educational law, and more.
Wrightslaw: From Emotions to Advocacy, second edition will teach you how to plan, prepare, organize and get quality special education services. In this comprehensive, easy-to-read book, you will learn your child's disability and educational needs, how to create a simple method for organizing your childs file and devising a master plan for your child's special education. You will understand parent-school conflict, how to create paper trails and effective letter writing. This book includes dozens of worksheets, forms and sample letters that you can tailor to your needs
Proceeds from the sale of books purchased from our recommended books section can help support LD OnLine.


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Product Details
David Yurman skillfully reinterprets chevron—the ancient V-shaped pattern used in architecture and art—in this modern, sculptural collection. Viewed in relation to one another, each half of the motif is a mirror image of Cable.
Style Number: B05524MSS
Fit & Care
Metal: Use the provided polishing cloth to gently wipe this item clean, then remove any remaining tarnish with mild diluted soap. Rinse with warm water and dry the design thoroughly before storing in the provided jewelry pouch. Please note: styles featuring meteorite should not be exposed to water.


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My first tag is "Friendship Award The Best Blogger" for 2009. I got tagged by Blair, Caroline :], and Jian.
The Rules are:
1. Take your award
2. Put the logo on your post
3. Link the person who awarded you
4. Nominate at least 7 other bloggers
5. Add the links of those bloggers on yours
6. Leave a message for your nominees
The second tag is to post a picture of yourself. I got tagged by Blair. I'm going to skip this tag since I stopped posting my pictures, and I'm going to post a picture of Tobey... lol~ :X
The Rules are:
Take a picture of yourself RIGHT now. No primping or preparing. Just snap a picture. Load the picture onto your blog. Tag some people to play.
The third tag is the "Neno's Award." I got tagged by Blair.
The Rules are:
1. Paste the Award Logo in your blog
2. Give out the award to 10 Blogs that you feels the most inspired and most friendly.
3. Make sure you back linked the recipient's blogs to your blog.
4. Inform the recipients about the award by leaving them comments on their blog.
5. Give some love to the person who gave you this award.
The fourth tag is "One Lovely Blog Award." I got tagged by Caroline :].
The fifth tag is to write a letter to your 16 year old self. I got tagged by Yinnie.
Dear Aly,
There is more to life than high school. The one thing I want you to learn now is to appreciate the ones around you. There will be a day they will not be around. They will go to a better place where they will not feel pain. Now that you have the time, tell them in daily basis how much you care and love them. I know it's hard to believe and it will be tough, but tell them because you might regret it.
The future Aly
I think that's all the tags I got and who nominated me. If you nominated me or there is more tags, PLEASE tell me. I have a very short-term... hehe~ :X
I nominate EVERYONE who reads my blog. Yeah you who's reading right now to do all the tags above... hehe~ :P
I'm going to end with some of the things I got this week. I usually don't post things I got as gifts unless it's beauty related. I thought this is perfect since I've been posting headbands... hehe~ :X
My friend Katzz, who I know in real life, bought me this headband from Icing. By the way, check out her blog. She just started blogging... wheee~ ;) I thought it was so sweet of her to remember how much I wanted this headband. About a month ago or more, we checked out Icing. I couldn't decide between this or another headband. I ended up getting the other headband (click here to see the post). The sweet part is she kept reading my blog to see if I went back and bought this headband... hehe~ I was going to when it goes on sale, but it never did. Now I don't need too... yippie~
She also got me this cute necklace by Glitz. The picture doesn't do justice. It's much better in person! :)
Thank you Katzz!!! :)
My makeup buddy got me something too.
A cute bag from LeSportsac! The best part it's in blue and I love the design... hehe~
It also comes with a small bag. How cute is that! I already put my makeup in there to carry with me... hehe~ ;)
Thank you Makeup Buddy!!! :)


text:
Back to Directory Search
550 Hanley Ave.
Los Angeles, CA 90049, U.S.A.View Map
Phone: (310)476-5700
Fax: (310)476-6944
Email: firstname.lastname@example.com
URL: http://www.ruthcsnyder.com
More Information
Artist's Statement
My work consists of the exploration and documentation of the forms and shapes of nature in space. The results are both figurative and abstract. The works speak of a spirituality that allows humankind to rise above and soar; despite the horrors of war, aggression, abuse and prejudice. This is demostrated in several of my monumental pieces and in the "Floating Power" series . The "Bone Series" symbolizes my philosophy that life continues and will persevere into the millenium. The "Bronze Space Composites" are the abstraction of the shapes of nature in space.
Please see my website at www.ruthcsnyder.com for futher images and documentation.
Website Design & Development by Cybermill Interactive


text:
The Ford Ranger 1990-1992 was ahead of its time as it was smaller than the full-sized pick-up trucks popular in the early 90s. Update and protect your classic Ranger with a set of precut Rtint™? window tints, custom cut so you can install them yourself and save. Use our intuitive, order-by-picture interface and get just the right tints for your Ford truck. Choose from 5, 20, 35 or 50% VLT...
Price: $39.97
Apply Ford window tint kits quickly and easily by using the right tools for the job. Whether you need a complete Gila® window tint application kit the features slip solution or just the Conqueror™ Rvinyl carries a full line of tinting tools. From the world class Lil Chizler™ to the big mamma of squeegees the Red Devil™ we have what it takes to get your tint installed on the...
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Rtint™ window tint film is an innovative, single-ply film that is made for the DIY installer. Available in 20-inch and 40-inch rolls and sold by the foot in lengths of up to 12 feet, you can get just the right size for any job. Whether you need to black out your Mustang's rear windows with a roll of 5% VLT, you want to add some shade to your F-150's cab with a light, 50% VLT sheet of tint...
Price: $0.99 - $104.47
1991 Ford Ranger windshield tint strips come precut in a trim-to fit universal design. Each kit includes three varying sizes with different heights available in popular 5, 20, 35 and 50% shades. Help reduce the sun's glare while giving your ride an aggressive roof profile. Window Tint visors are engineered to be applied to the inside of your windshield or in the case of static cling Tint can be...
Price: $12.99 - $40.97
Remove old or damaged window tint on your 1991 Ford Ranger using the Gila window tint remover kit with scraper blade. Whether you had your kit professionally installed or it was a DIY job, this kit aides in removing damaged film. Gila makes removing tint quicker and easier in this all-in-one removal kit.
Price: $14.99
Retail: $18.99
1991 Ford Ranger Dash Kits
1991 Ford Ranger Tail Light Tint Covers
1991 Ford Ranger Headlight Tint Covers


text:
Friday 25 January
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© Kenji Nishida
Kenji Nishida
Escuela de Biologia, Universidad de Costa Rica
2060 San Jose
Costa Rica
Tel: (506) -2294-0612
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Click to view The United States has existed for only a little over two centuries, which is a paltry amount of time when you consider that many nations and city-states have lasted for thousands of years (hello, Rome). Now it's starting to look like this brief experiment with human government is going to fail, and soon. Science fiction writers from William Gibson to Lyda Morehouse have written about a future where the United States no longer exists, or has been so heavily reorganized that it isn't recognizable. And Stanford futurist Paul Saffo recently told the San Jose Mercury News, "The U.S. may not exist in any recognizable form in the middle of this century." Though he didn't offer a long list of reasons, we know exactly what he means. There are good reasons to believe that the U.S. is falling apart, and we've got five big ones for you to mull over as you watch this once-powerful twentieth century empire slowly drip down the drain.
1. Too many internal divisions
People in the United States refer to the country being divided into "red states" (conservative regions) and "blue states" (progressive regions). The division is so extreme that most recent presidential elections have been close calls, with red states voting Republican and blues voting Democrat — the nation is so evenly divided, and the vote so controversial, that in 2000 the presidential election had to be called by the courts rather than by a standard tally. But the nation isn't just divided by red and blue. It's also divided by wealth and poverty, with some states like California boasting per capita GDPs of over $42 thousand, and other states like Mississippi with a per capita GDP at a little over $24 thousand.
Can a nation divided both ideologically and economically survive? It's one thing to disagree over religion, but quite another to disagree over who gets to have a school system in their state next year. When people in some regions of the United States feel screwed over economically, as well as insulted culturally, it may begin to feel as if they have no choice but to break away from a nation that no longer represents their best interests.
2. A decadent culture
The United States has, for a long time, been the world's biggest exporter of popular culture. US movies play all over the world, from Cuba to the UAE, and US television roams the planet as well. Partly that's because Hollywood is such a wealthy industry that its products are just the shiniest things around, but it's also because the nation's pop culture has been inspirational (even if propagandistic at times) and groundbreaking. But now even the most die-hard fans of US pop culture have to admit that the Hollywood machine needs some serious upgrades. It's decaying. The biggest sign of our decadent pop culture is the glut of sequels and remakes that circulate and recirculate through the pop machine. This summer's movie slate, and next season's TV slate, are perfect examples. We've got a Batman sequel, a Hulk remake, a movie version of a comic book in Wanted, and a Hellboy sequel in theaters, plus a remake of a British TV series (Life on Mars) in the works for fall.
How can the US continue to be a nation of innovators and free thinkers if all our pop culture is being recycled from previous generations' pop culture? I'm not saying that there is such a thing as a completely original story, but remaking old stories again and again encourages people to look back to the past for ideas rather than trying to break new ground.
3. Too much military, not enough social welfare
While the US government fights an expensive war that is so unpopular that even former Secretary of State Colin Powell says it's not justified, the country still hasn't set up a public health care system or solved its problems with social security and medicare spending. The wealthy push for lower taxes, and people like billionaire Bill Gates claim they can pick up the slack by engaging in philanthropy. Yeah, philanthropy worked great back in the early twentieth century, when guys like Andrew Carnegie said the same thing. And then the nation fell into the Great Depression, and had to create a sane welfare system.
It's not likely that we're going to see another president or administration that is willing to reboot welfare, and that is only going to add to the problems I discussed in reason #1. Whether or not you think welfare is the answer, it's clear that the government should be spending more money improving the lives of its citizens rather than fighting a war in Iraq. Maybe that money should go towards education, or health care, or space travel. The point is, US citizens feel increasingly abandoned by their national government.
4. Citizens do not trust their government
US intelligence group the National Security Agency (NSA) has acknowledged that it spent the past several years illegally wiretapping and spying on vast portions of the US population. The NSA asked phone and internet service providers like AT&T to hand over all information they had on what every single customer was doing online or on the phone. And AT&T did it, even though the NSA had not gotten a warrant or gone through any of the proper court procedures to get that personal and sensitive data. The US government has repeatedly tried to pardon the NSA for doing this, which sets up an atmosphere of fear and suspicion among US citizens. Most people here in the US know they are probably being spied on and have given up the idea of privacy. Meanwhile, US citizens can't really trust the government to give them truthful financial information either. Many commentators have pointed out that the US Treasury's method of measuring inflation has downplayed the extent to which the country is suffering from a greater level of inflation than the government admits.
So if your government is spying on you, and lying to you about how much more expensive it has become to live in the US, how can you trust that government to care for and protect you? Maybe so few US citizens turn out to vote partly because they feel like the government lies about everything, so they might as well not bother participating in the political process. Obviously the situation is more complicated than that, but nevertheless it's easy to see why a nation that cannot represent itself transparently to its own citizens might be headed for a fall.
5. No science and engineering leadership
What made the US one of the world's most powerful nations during the twentieth century was its focus on science and engineering innovation. The government poured money into developing new technologies to make life easier — and, admittedly, to use as weapons. The president's science adviser was an important position, which the Bush Administration downgraded. Now there is no direct science adviser to the President of the US. Moreover, new US immigration laws keep talented immigrant scientists out of the country, and lack of funding for science education means that fewer and fewer young US citizens will grow up to invent world-transforming technologies. It doesn't help that the US government still refuses to accept scientifically-verified claims about climate change, has banned funding for research into promising areas like stem cell therapies, and refuses to provide basic sex education in schools.
Without a strong focus on science and technology education, as well as a strong science agenda in government, the US is likely to become a technological anachronism. It will wither away into obsolescence while Europe and Asia go to space in their nano-suits with crews of AI robots. In addition, without a strong science agenda, the US will not be able to meet the challenge of dealingl with climate change, and therefore make take the entire world down the drain with it. Image via PlanetXProphecies.


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OTTAWA - The country's veterans ombudsman received nine privacy violation complaints over the last five years, seven of which were handed over to Canada's privacy commissioner — a move questioned by a growing number of ex-soldiers.
A high-profile advocate, who claims his medical files were raided, wants the federal solicitor general to investigate whether it was appropriate for ombudsman Guy Parent to "take a back seat" on the issue.
He also asks whether the veterans minister overstepped his authority by shutting down a probe initiated by his predecessor.
Former warrant officer Harold Leduc, who was recently dropped from a federal agency that reviews benefits claims of ex-soldiers, says he believes his complaint about alleged privacy violations deserved to be investigated by both the ombudsman and privacy commissioner Jennifer Stoddart.
And a citizens group on the East Coast weighed into the issue Wednesday, demanding a public inquiry into what they say is a pattern of privacy violations at Veterans Affairs that targeted advocates.
A spokeswoman for Parent says each complaint was dealt with appropriately and denied the ombudsman had been usurped.
"As an independent body, the Office of the Veterans' Ombudsman does not back down from investigations on request," said Claude Rochon in an email statement.
"The decision to halt the review of this specific potential privacy breach was made when it was confirmed that the relevant mandated federal authority, in this case the Office of the Privacy Commissioner, had been seized with the matter.
"Parallel investigations by our office and the Office of the Privacy Commissioner would not have been a sensible use of resources."
Last week, it was revealed Veteran Affairs Minister Steven Blaney quietly ended one of the privacy probes by the ombudsman, which had been ordered by his predecessor, Jean-Pierre Blackburn.
Like Parent, Blaney said he believed that investigation was best handled by Stoddart. A few weeks ago the privacy commissioner, in a comprehensive audit, gave the department a thumbs-up and said its procedures for handling information have been tightened.
But that hasn't satisfied advocates, include a St. John's, N.L.-based organization active in supporting ex-soldiers.
"The federal government has been playing a shell-game with the truth," said Our Duty president Jeff Rose-Martland, who has written extensively on veterans issues.
He claims his organization has been made aware of dozens of unreported, alleged privacy violations and called for a full inquiry.
In addition to Leduc, another veteran, Tom Hoppe, one of the country's most decorated peacekeepers and a member of the ombudsman's advisory committee, had a complaint before Parent.
With no perceived action from the ombudsman, both men wrote the minister on June 4, 2012, imploring to Blaney to take further steps to protect personal information within the department, and to resolve their complaints.
"We applaud your recent efforts within your ministry to limit the future misuse of veterans' personal medical information within Veterans Affairs," they wrote in a joint letter, obtained by The Canadian Press.
"However, these changes do not address the damage caused to us by the acquisition and subsequent misuse of our medical information by senior members of your ministry."
Leduc wrote again on Sept. 27, 2012, but Blaney urged the former senior warrant officer to contact the privacy commissioner.
"As you are aware, the Veterans Review and Appeal Board is an independent tribunal and operates at arm's length from the minister of Veterans Affairs to ensure a fair appeal process for veterans and their families," said Blaney's reply last week, also obtained by The Canadian Press.
"Therefore with regard to your concerns about privacy, I would encourage you to contact the Office of the Privacy Commissioner, as previously recommended by my office."
A spokesman for Blaney said the department has been given clear direction to handle privacy complaints.
"Our officials have been clearly instructed to notify the privacy commissioner when informed of any evidence of a privacy breach and we invite any veteran who believes their privacy has been breached to immediately contact the office of the privacy commissioner without delay," said Niklaus Schwenker in an email note.
"Officials at the Department of Veterans' Affairs have been instructed to co-operate fully with the privacy commissioner in all cases."


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Kathryn Piening, left, and Traci Weamer pose after their victory in St. Lucia
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COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (Nov. 14, 2012) – U.S. beach volleyball players Kathryn (Babcock) Piening (Kalamazoo, Mich.) and Traci Weamer (Upland, Calif.) had never competed together, or even practiced, when they won the gold medal at the NORCECA Beach Circuit event on Oct. 26-28 in St. Lucia.
But these days, to be successful in beach volleyball, it helps to be flexible.
It was Weamer who was asked to play in St. Lucia by USA Volleyball. She reached out to Piening, whom she had met, but with whom she had never played.
It turned out to be a good move.
"She is awesome, has a really great attitude and loves the sport," Weamer said of Piening. "We had never practiced or played together, not even at a king of the beach tournament. But it was so easy to adapt."
Piening said of Weamer, "She's easy to play with. We had a great time."
The pair went 5-0 in winning the tournament, and did not lose a set until the gold medal match against Costa Rica's Ingrid Morales and Natalia Alfaro, which the U.S. pair won, 17-21, 22-20, 15-12.
"We won the first game, but lost the second 22-20," Piening said. "We were up 20-19, but then they got an ace. That put pressure on us. They were definitely the first team (of the tournament) that had pushed us to play our best."
In spite of their success, both players will go back to their regular partners next season. Weamer will play with Erin Gray (Orland Park, Ill.) while Piening will play with Sheila Shaw (Muskego, Wis.).
Before then, however, Weamer will play with Tealle Hunkus (Girard, Ohio) at the NORECA Beach Circuit event in Trinidad & Tobago (see note below).
Weamer said being laid back definitely helps her to enjoy beach volleyball.
"I really have no expectations. I don't expect (tournaments) to be amazing or awful," she said. "I take it for what it is. I'm definitely more of a laid back and go-with-the-flow person. As a beach volleyball player, you have to be that way.
"The sport is changing so much and there is always something coming at you. You have to be open to everything. You never know what will happen."
Maybe a gold medal.
Four U.S. beach volleyball teams will compete Nov. 16-18 at the NORCECA Circuit event in Trinidad & Tobago.
The women's USA1 team will be Traci Weamer and Tealle Hunkus while the USA2 team will be Emily Day (Torrance, Calif.) and Summer Ross (San Diego, Calif.).
Day and Ross won the World University Championships in September in Maceio, Brazil. But the two were on opposite sides of the net later that month when Day and partner Heather Hughes (Fallbrook, Calif.) defeated Ross and Morgan Beck (Coto de Caza, Calif.) in the gold medal match of the NORCECA Circuit event in Chula Vista, Calif.
On the men's side, the USA1 team will be Will Montgomery (Santa Barbara, Calif.) and Tony Ciarelli (Huntington Beach, Calif.) while USA2 will include Weston Carico (Manhattan Beach, Calif.) and Curt Toppel (Pacific Palisades, Calif.).
Montgomery and Ciaralli played against each other in the final of the NORCECA event in St. Lucia, which Montgomery and partner Jon Mesko (Traverse City, Mich.) won, 21-13, 24-22. Ciarelli's partner for that event was Jeff Carlson (Newport Beach, Calif.), with whom Ciarelli won a silver medal at the 2008 FIVB youth world championship.
Teams from 13 countries have registered to participate in the event, which will be held in Mission Beach on the island of Trinidad.
For more information on the event, click here.
The International Volleyball Federation (FIVB) completed a weeklong series of meetings on Nov. 9, which included a Continental Cup/ World Cup workshop, the FIVB Beach Volleyball Commission, FIVB Beach Volleyball World Tour Council for Grand Slam events and FIVB World Championships, and the FIVB Beach Volleyball Council for Open Events.
The participants of the Continental Cup / World Cup workshop reviewed the results of the first edition of the competition and discussed ideas for the next cycle.
The FIVB Beach Volleyball Commission – composed of more members representing all five Continental Confederations as of this year – assessed the structure of future beach volleyball events, the integration of each level of events through the FIVB World Ranking and the continuous activation of beach volleyball worldwide. Taking into account the current world financial crisis, the FIVB has committed to creating a sustainable model for international beach volleyball events.
As a result of these meetings, the FIVB will continue developing the Continental Cup and World Cup, which in their first edition involved 143 countries.
Meanwhile, the FIVB Beach Volleyball World Tour Council was presented with the beach volleyball events scheme, positioning Grand Slam events as the FIVB`s elite property, and the Open events as the intermediate property providing more opportunities for athletes worldwide.
In the meeting that took place on Thursday, the FIVB Beach Volleyball World Tour Council for World Championships and Grand Slams, also confirmed that the 2013 FIVB Beach Volleyball World Championships will take place July 1-7 next year in Stare Jablonki, Poland.
To read the complete press release from the FIVB, click here.
The Arizona Region of USA Volleyball sponsored the first-ever Arizona Men's Collegiate Beach Championship on Nov. 10 at Glendale, Ariz.
It was an all-Grand Canyon University final as Trent Bruns and Ryan Mather defeated teammates Erik Jensen and David Beck 21-12, 21-9. A total of 11 teams from four colleges competed in the inaugural event.
Come join USA Volleyball at the AVCA Convention and earn your Beach Coaching Accreditation Level I on Dec. 12-15 at the Kentucky International Convention Center.
We invite you to be active participants throughout this course; to share ideas on technique, drill design, strategy and pedagogy; to ask questions and make suggestions; and to get sandy.
If you have already registered to attend the AVCA Convention, you can still ADD the BCAP USAV course.
Click here to register and get more information on the Beach CAP I.


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Orange County, June 22 Report
SANTA ANA RIVER LAKES: Catfish action is good. Catfish plants are weekly. Information: 714-632-7851 or log on at www.fishinglakes.com.
IRVINE LAKE: The lake is closed and will be for at least the immediate future.
LAGUNA NIGUEL LAKE: No report. There are no fishing fees this season, only the $5 parking fee on weekends (or $3 during the week). For more information, 949-923-2240 or go to ocparks.com/parks/lagunan/.


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IP Indian Journal of Neurosciences
Respected Dr./Professor/Researchers,
We are seeking professionals to join our Reviewer/Editorial Board Members.
The quality of journal has always an aspect attracting much of our attention by reviewer/editorial board. To ensure quality of our publication and to better serve the peers in academic circle, we now call for Reviewer / Editorial Board members among professionals and experts of the world.
Reviewer/Editorial Board members are reviews of our manuscript which has been submitted for Publication in our Journals and share your experience towards the success of the Journal. If you are interested to join us as an "Editorial Member/Reviewer Board" for the journal related to your specialization then please visit our site https://innovpub.org/register.php and register as Reviewer/ Editorial member.
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text: Dinner time is the best time of day! Find Dog Food Bowls that can make feeding time even more enjoyable for your pup! (If that were even possible!) We've got Ceramic Dog Bowls, Plastic Dog Bowls, Metal Dog Bowls, Automatic Dog Feeders, Slow Feeders, and so much more! With tons of colors, shapes, and sizes, you'll be able to find the right Dog Bowl for your pup!


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This is a special guest post from Ann Tran of ann-tran.com.
I have been to Barcelona several times previously and, with only one day in the city this time, I decided to do something a bit different. I saw a tweet and photo in the Montserrat monastery's stream and thought it might be a really interesting place to wander and take photographs.
Getting to Montserrat looked confusing at first, but in actuality it was quite easy to navigate Barcelona's very robust public rail system. The large central Espanya rail station could be reached from anywhere in the city via Metro, then I simply followed the signage to the R5 line. For about €30, you can purchase a combination round-trip ticket, funicular or cable car transport up the mountain, and free all-day Barcelona Metro use from ticket machines in the Espanya station.
Arriving at the base of the mountain from the Barcelona train system simply took my breath away. You're sitting at the base of a 2,400-foot-high mountain topped with serrated rocks, and the monastery sitting on a sheer cliff wall. The Funicula ride up the side of the mountain takes about 20 minutes and looking down into the valley on the way is absolutely spectacular. Braver souls can take a cable car up the mountain—it only takes six minutes, but you will have to stand up during the entire trip.
Once at the monastery, I would suggest walking straight into the basilica. It's one of the most beautiful churches I've ever seen, outside of the Vatican. It is very peaceful and I believe they play the church organ every hour, on the hour, which fills the interior with warm, soothing sounds. I missed the choir performance, as it finished before I arrived, so if you don't want to miss it, be sure to check their schedule.
After enjoying the beautiful grounds and scenic valley views from the monastery, I took an additional Funicula ride (included in the price) up to Sant Joan point. This traverses another 1,000 feet further to the very top of the mountain. Here you can hike on gorgeous trails and see a 360-degree view of Spain. Plus, the view of the monastery from Sant Joan is the best vantage point for photographs.
Montserrat is a place of outstanding individuality and unrivaled beauty. The geology is quite amazing, and the shrine where the patron saint of Catalonia, la Moreneta, is worshipped is unparalleled in its ornate beauty. It is also hosts one of Europe's oldest and most famous schools of music.
Although one day to tour Montserrat was sufficient, I wish I had a little more time to explore and hike throughout the mountaintop and village. The monastery grounds have hotels and restaurants—and even a supermarket—so tourists can extend their stay and appreciate the zen-like quality of this beautiful and historical retreat. Montserrat has come to symbolize an entire nation, and it's no wonder that it has become a center of pilgrimage that welcomes over 3 million visitors annually from around the world.
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Hello Friends and Comrades,
- Here is the political prisoner birthday poster for April.(11″x17″ PDF, 1.8MB) Print it out and plaster your community, both in commemoration of these freedom fighters and to advertise locally for a political prisoner letter writing night.Get together with some friends in your town to send birthday cards to these fighters in our struggle. It's an easy way to help remind them that they aren't forgotten. If you make one, remember—don't use anything like white-out, stickers, tape or glitter on it. We also recommend that you put a return name and address and their name and prisoner number on the card, lest the authorities "lose" the envelope and forget where it is going. If you would like to add a birthday or sign up for our poster mailing list (not a listserv, one email per month), or if you would like to contribute in another way to increasing the profile of US political prisoners, email us at firstname.lastname@example.com.
- Last year, our poster included the political prisoner Brent Betterly, and we are delighted to say that we no longer have to include him on our list of prisoners to support because he was released three days before his birthday last year, and our movements raised a fund after his release. That's great solidarity after great news.
- Similarly, our antifa warrior and proud participant in the Tinley Park Incident Jason Hammond is going to be released this April! He has a release fund that you should contribute to.
- Check out this prison rebellion support blog for updates and calls to action to support prison rebels.
- Rest In Power Comrade Wopashitwe Mondo We Langa. Read Mumia's word on his passing, and the last poem he wrote before he passed away in prison.
- Be sure to check out the latest Political Prisoner/Prisoner Of War every-other week update (PDF, 270KB) by the NYC-Anarchist Black Cross. There are lots of important updates on many political prisoners. This one includes updates on Mumia, Russell "Maroon" Shoatz, The Virgin Island 3, and more.
Remember: They are in there for us, we are out here for them!
Until Every Cage Is Empty,


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Gravity geodetic control
|Product information
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|Pricelist of products and services
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|S-JTSK (Ferro) / Krovak
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|Points of Gravity Geodetic Control - contains only point of fundamental Gravity Geodetic Control, whose administrator is Land Survey Office.
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|Data about points are published by WMS service Geodetic Controls at the ČÚZK Geoportal. The service is available in the map window of introduction page and in the Geoviewer application. The data in map service are updated once a week.
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|Geodetic data about individual points are provided free of charge by the internet application Geoviewer according to set search criteria. Data about points according to specific criteria are provided beyond the frame of the application. These data are provided on the base of an agreement.
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CHARLOTTE, N.C. — An online petition is calling for a national holiday to honor the late Rev. Billy Graham and has over 34,000 signatures in support.
The petition, posted on change.org, calls on Donald Trump, Richard Burr, Thom Tillis and Congress to enact a national holiday to commemorate the impact of Rev. Graham.
The petition, posted six days ago by Kyle Siler, states the following:
Lets get a National Holiday for Billy Graham!! Mr. Graham preached the Gospel to more people in live audiences than anyone else in history—nearly 215 million people in more than 185 countries and territories—through various meetings, including Mission World and Global Mission. Hundreds of millions more have been reached through television, video, film, and webcasts. Mr. Graham's counsel was sought by presidents, and his appeal in both the secular and religious arenas is evidenced by the wide range of groups that have honored him, including numerous honorary doctorates from many institutions in the U.S. and abroad.
As of 11:30 a.m. on Sunday the petition has over 34,500 signatures.
Last week, Charlotte Mayor Vi Lyles declared that March 2, 2018 will be known as "Billy Graham Day" in the Queen City.
Lyles said the decree is a "citywide expression of gratitude and appreciation for all of the meaningful achievements in the life of Reverend Billy Graham."
Before he went on to become the man that many remembers as "America's Pastor," Rev. Graham grew up in a house on a dairy farm in Charlotte on Park Road. He passed away at his home in Montreat, N.C. on February 21 at the age of 99.


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Cedric de Coning, Research Fellow and Advisor to the Peace & Security Unit at ACCORD, made a presentation on the current and future role of private contractors in peacekeeping operations in Africa, at the University of Stellenbosch on Wednesday, 17 May 2006. The presentation formed part of a day-long seminar organised by the Department of Sociology of the University of Stellenbosch for a group of approximately 30 students from the Industrial College of the Armed Forces
The ICAF students are on a two-week visit to South Africa as part of their Privatised Military Operations Industry Study Programme 2006. The overall focus of the study programme is to conduct industrial analysis of the privatised military industry with a focus on commercial industries' support to stability operations and reconstruction within the framework of military transformation.
The theme of de Coning's presentation was on the need for conceptual clarity between 'private contractors' that provide logistical and support services, and that are currently widely used in United Nations (UN) and African Union (AU) peace operations in Africa, and some 'Private Military Companies (PMCs)' that provide offensive security services. He argued that it is highly unlikely that the UN or AU will outsource those aspects of peace operations that may involve the use of lethal force to such PMCs, as the legal basis for the use of force by peacekeepers is intrinsically linked to their international legitimacy and credibility as derived from their UN Security Council mandates based on Chapter 7, and 8 in the case of the AU, of the UN Charter. The status of peacekeepers as serving soldiers of member states of the UN or AU, temporarily deployed as part of a multi-national UN or AU peacekeeping force, provides an additional national legal framework that address specific operational, disciplinary and related legal issues. In addition, soldiers in a national military establishment have specific obligations and privileges under the Geneva Conventions that codify the Law of Armed Conflict.
The international (UN and IHL) and national legal frameworks, taken together, thus provide an internationally acceptable legal context within which lethal force can be used on behalf of the international community to maintain international peace and security. Private military companies that provide offensive security services lie outside this legal framework (except when their services can be categorised as mercenary activities for which there are international and African conventions in place), and it is thus highly unlikely that they will be used by the UN or the AU, under the current international legal framework, to provide such services.


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And not even that heavily-photoshoped kind, either. I mean, outside of the obvious effects, that is just one absolutely incredible costume, right down to the smallest detail. It's a great photo by Jesús Clares, too.
It shares the spotlight this week with a bunch of other cosplayers who, whether it be Zelda, Skyrim, Star Wars or Mass Effect, are all looking like the just stepped straight of a screen.
As an added bonus: first thumb below is actually a video, and an awesome one at that, shot by beatdownboogie at Katsucon 2013, which incidentally is where many of this week's images were taken.
To see the larger pics in all their glory (or, if they're big enough, so you can save them as wallpaper), right-click on them below and select "open in new tab".
Fancy Pants is a weekly look at the very best in the world of cosplay (costume play), where people dress up as their favorite video game characters.
As seen on beatdownboogie.
As seen on ZOMBIEBITME.
As seen on StarDustShadow.
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As seen on Malindachan.
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As seen on Nebulaluben.